Monday, April 29, 2013

The New Dormitory, the second building added to the original
three buildings, was constructed in 1890 at a cost of $14,500. It was remodeled
for classes in 1918 due to a report in June of 1917 that described the New
Dormitory and the Old Dormitory as "public nuisances."

On December 18, 1919, the Board of Trustees followed a
recommendation of President McVey and the building known as the New Dormitory
was named Neville Hall in honor of Professor J. H. Neville who was for many
years professor of Latin and Greek and for a time served as Vice-President.

Neville Hall classroom, 1920

In the 1930s, the building housed the departments of Hygiene,
Psychology, and the Dispensary. The building deteriorated over the years and in
1937 the Board of Trustees recommended that the building be abandoned and again
in 1942.

Room on the condemned 3rd floor, 1955

By 1955, the building was still in use, housing the Department
of Psychology.At that point the south
wall bulged three to five inches out of line.Classes were being held on the third floor and while there was no immediate
danger of the building collapsing, the brickwork was rotten, wood infested with
termites, plaster was loose, wiring in dangerous condition, and lighting and
plumbing were obsolete. Frank D. Peterson, the University comptroller condemned
the third floor. Despite this, use of the building continued as there was no
other space for the Department of Psychology.

Maze of wiring, plumbing, and heating pipes, 1955

On January 9, 1961 fire swept through the 71 year old
Neville Hall. Seventy students and 10 faculty members were in the building and
all got out safely. The wood of the building burned away along with the
research of many psychology graduate students. The building was so badly
damaged by the fire that destruction was necessary.It was the first serious fire since the 1956
fire at Frazee Hall (Education Building). After Neville Hall was demolished, the
land was used for a parking area and lawn.